Social Media, Friends or Enemies?
It’s no surprise that the pressure to stay on social media is a real challenge for today’s teenagers. They spend too much time using QQ, WeChat and other social media. For many teens, social media can become almost addictive. Some teenagers can’t even live a normal life without social media.
According to a study, people who used more than seven social media platforms had more than three times the risk of depression (抑郁症) than people who used two or fewer. Children who overuse social media are likely to show less interest in social activities and experience an increase in loneliness.
Teens often feel emotionally invested (情感投入) in their social media accounts. Not only do they feel pressure to answer quickly online, but they also feel pressure to have perfect photos and posts, which can cause a lot of worries. In fact, some studies have found that the larger a person’s social circle online is, the more worried they will feel about keeping up with everything online.
A British study shows one-fifth of the teens have trouble sleeping at night because of social media use. They “almost always” wake up during the night and log in to social media. In addition to reporting feeling tired all the time, they also reported being less happy on average than teens whose sleep was not affected by social media. Besides, not having enough sleep can lower the immune (免疫的) system and make it more likely for a teen to get sick.
Overuse of social media can lead to jealousy (嫉妒) and envy among teenagers as well. People tend to post only the positive things that they experience, or make light of the bad with funny stories. As a result, another person’s life may look perfect online, but offline they have struggles just like anyone else. It is easy for a teen to play the comparison (比较) game and start thinking that everyone is happier or better offline than he or she is.
Many teens spend so much time online checking messages that they forget to communicate with the people right in front of them. As a result, teens risk having poor relationships in their lives when social media takes center stage.
It is important that parents understand the possible influence that social media has on their kids. For this reason, it is important to set up guides for social media use among kids. It’s also important for families to have regular discussions on how to use social media reasonably and safely. When families pay close attention to the teens’ world of social media, their online world will become much more manageable.
1. The underlined word “addictive” in Paragraph 1 probably means “________”.| A．too enjoyable for them to stop | B．able or likely to harm or kill them |
| C．very useful for gathering information | D．always busy making them healthy |
| A．wonderful social activities | B．bad offline comparisons |
| C．exciting emotion experience | D．serious sleeping problems |
| A．sleep loss affected by social media is both physically and mentally harmful |
| B．social media interaction can work as well as face-to-face communication |
| C．teenagers tend to compare their lives with others in reality and feel better |
| D．the use of social media platforms will lead to depression in teenagers |
| A．To remind us how social media use affects teenagers’ health. |
| B．To explain some researches on the influences of online activities. |
| C．To give us some advice on how to use social media online properly. |
| D．To question if parents should watch and guide kids’ online activities. |
The Little Boy’s Races
Once in a village lived a little boy named Jacob. He was very athletic and famous for running fast. What’s more, winning a competition was the most important for him. One day, Jacob took part in a running competition held in the village. In the competition, he competed with two other young boys.
As the first race started, the excited crowd waved at Jacob and cried out his name. The boy called on his determination (决心) and strength, and he was the first one who came to the finishing line. The little boy felt proud.
Later the second race was called. Another two young and strong challengers (挑战者) came forward and ran with Jacob. As expected, he finished first again. The crowd became crazy and cried out his name. The little boy felt more satisfied. He started to shout, “Another race! Another race! I bet no one will win against me!”
An old man was watching all this. He stepped forward and with him he presented two new challengers. One was a weak old lady and the other was a blind man. Jacob was quite surprised and asked, “What’s this? This is no race!” The old man replied, “Race!”
When all were set on the starting line, the third race started. In the end, Jacob was the only one to finish that race, leaving two challengers standing at the starting line. The little boy raised his arms in delight. But to his surprise, this time no one from the crowd was cheering and everyone was just looking at him silently. “What happened? Why are people not cheering?” Jacob asked the old man. The old man replied, “Race again but this time finish together with your challengers.”
After thinking for a while, Jacob went to the starting line again and stood in the middle of the old lady and the blind man. The final race began. He took both of them by hand and started to walk slowly. At last they crossed that finishing line. This time at the end of the race, the crowd stood up and warmly applauded for him.
Jacob didn’t understand why the crowd was not cheering for him before but now when all three of them finished the race together. So he asked the old man about it. The wise old man smiled, “Little boy, in this race you have won much more than what you won in any other race. By respecting your rivals (对手), you have won people’s respect.”
1. What’s the most important thing for Jacob before the competition?| A．Being respected by others. | B．Making the crowd very excited. |
| C．Getting strong and healthy. | D．Becoming the winner in games. |
| A．Two. | B．Three. | C．Four. | D．Five. |
| A．Angry. | B．Scared. | C．Confident. | D．Surprised. |
| A．Practice makes perfect. | B．Respecting others comes first. |
| C．Challenges bring us fame. | D．Having confidence is necessary. |
3 . Social Media… the Highs and Lows
Twenty years ago, the idea of sharing our lives so openly with the world was unheard of. However, for young people today it is considered completely normal to share pictures of their lives and interact online every day. Fans of social media point out that the world has never been so connected as it has allowed people to make friends, learn about the world and celebrate life.
However, many people have concerns about the effects of this new way of living, particularly around the amount and type of information that is shared so openly.
Now researchers have found that too much time on social media may indeed have some negative( 消极的 ) effects. They measured people’s attitudes and feelings before and after browsing social media sites. They found that the more time people spent on social media, the more unhappy they became.
There are a number of reasons for this. When browsing social media, people often see photographs and stories showing beautiful holidays, fun parties and fashionable clothes. People seldom post negative stories or bad pictures, so it can be misleading. For those looking at these pictures and comparing them to their own lives, they can end up feeling sad and depressed. They might think their lives are worse in comparison. Even for those people who post positive(积极的) stories and pictures, they too can feel stressed and worried.
The number of “likes” and comments on their posts can make them worried about their popularity. Of course, there is also the problem of “cyber bullying”(网络暴力 ) where people become victims of bullying online when others make negative or cruel comments(评论) about them.
The reality is that social media is a part of modern life and it is not going to go away. This research shows us that it is important to deal with the relationship between our online and offline lives properly. We don’t have to disconnect from the Internet to live a happy life, but we should realise that the pictures we see and stories we read are only part of a bigger picture. If we can do that, we can protect ourselves and enjoy our lives.
1. According to the passage, we know __________.| A．spending more time on social media makes people more enjoyable |
| B．researchers haven’t found anything negative about social media |
| C．it is common for young people to share their lives online |
| D．the world is not so connected like before |
| A．feel worried about | B．look forward to |
| C．speak highly of | D．get used to |
| A．different people make different comments |
| B．there are many negative stories and bad pictures |
| C．they compare positive pictures to their own lives |
| D．the number of “likes” is larger than they expected |
| A．To ask us to protect ourselves from “cyber bullying”. |
| B．To advise us to keep away from the Internet to live a happy life. |
| C．To remind us of posting positive stories and good pictures online. |
| D．To tell us to keep a balance between our online and offline lives. |
4 . Running is becoming popular these days. Many of us run for our health. Doctors say many of the health problems come from these bad habits: eating too much, drinking too much, smoking and not taking enough exercise. Doctors tell us, “Eat and drink less, don't smoke, and exercise more.”
Running is a good form of exercise because it helps build a strong heart. It also helps most people lose weight. One 68-year-old woman runs three times a week. She runs to lose weight. “I love to eat," she says.
Running is good for health in other ways, too. Many runners say running keeps colds and other small health problems away. “Running is my doctor,” says one man.
Running can also help people to relax. So today men and women of all ages enjoy running.
1. Many people enjoy running because they want to__________.| A．eat much | B．keep healthy | C．run fast | D．drink more |
| A．not to smoke | B．not to eat much |
| C．not to drink much | D．all the above |
| A．疾病 | B．健康 | C．体重 | D．速度 |
| A．running helps people to relax | B．runners have many health problems |
| C．running helps build a strong heart | D．running is good in many ways |
| A．how to run | B．how to lose weight |
| C．running is a good way to keep healthy | D．running is better than doctors |
5 . Betty Brown is an Australian girl. Now she lives in Beijing with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Brown and her brother, Jack. Jack is twenty years old. He is a student at Beijing University. He is good at all his school subjects and his teachers like him very much. Mr. Brown is a doctor. He works in Beijing Friendship Hospital. Mrs. Brown is an English teacher. She teaches at Beijing International School. Every day, Betty goes to school with her mother in her mother’s car. They usually get to school at seven o’clock in the morning.
Mr. Brown is very busy（忙的）on weekdays. But he doesn’t work at the weekend. On Saturday or Sunday, he often goes to play basketball with his friends. He likes football, too. But he doesn’t play it. He only watches football matches on TV. Mrs. Brown likes playing table tennis with her Chinese friends at the weekend.
Betty studies hard. She can speak a lot of Chinese now. She speaks to her Chinese friends in Chinese and speaks to her parents in English. At school, her favourite subject is art and she can draw very well. She likes traditional(传统的) Chinese art best. She thinks Chinese art is really great. And she likes books about Chinese art. Look, there are many books and pictures on her desk. In her room, you can also see many beautiful pictures on the walls. Betty draws most of them.
1. How many people are there in Betty’s family?| A．Two. | B．Four. | C．Six. | D．Eight. |
| A．At Beijing University. |
| B．At an Australian university. |
| C．In Beijing Friendship Hospital. |
| D．At Beijing International School. |
| A．Betty speaks to her friends in English. |
| B．Betty likes books about history. |
| C．Betty’s favourite subject is art. |
| D．There are many pens on the desk. |
| A．Betty’s friends. | B．Betty’s brother. | C．Betty’s parents. | D．Betty’s family. |
6 . It's a hot time for Chinese language learning across the world, not only because of China's higher position(地位) in the world but also because of the increasing economic(经济的) and cultural connections between China and other countries.
For example, the United Arab Emirates(UAE) (阿拉伯联合酋长国) plans to open Chinese language courses in 200 public primary and middle schools, so experienced Chinese teachers are needed.
Other Chinese courses opened across the world show the increasing need for Chinese- speaking talent. Mandarin(普通话) became an elective(选修的) foreign language in Russia's college entrance exam. Following English, German, French, and Spanish, Mandarin has become the fifth elective test subject for the exam.
Spain has more than 40, 000 people learning Chinese. Last year about 8, 000 people took the Chinese Proficiency Test (HSK) exam. The number of people who took the test was the biggest, according to Xinhua News Agency.
In the US, leaning Chinese has been thriving for many years and is now a popular choice for American children, especially those who were born in good families. The children begin to learn Chinese at an early age because their parents believe that learning Chinese will help them build successful international careers(事业).
1. Why is Chinese language learning so hot?| A．Because many foreigners like China's culture. |
| B．Because China has the highest position in the world. |
| C．Because China helps a lot of countries to develop. |
| D．Because China has more influence around the world. |
| A．French | B．Spanish | C．Japanese | D．Mandarin |
| A．兴盛 | B．衰落 | C．改变 | D．开办 |
| A．The UAE needs experienced English teachers. |
| B．All American children learn Chinese from an early age. |
| C．About one fifth of the Spanish learning Chinese took the HSK in 2019. |
| D．The Mandarin exam must be taken before going to Russia's colleges. |
| A．more people in the UAE begin to learn Chinese |
| B．Chinese language learning is popular around the world |
| C．some foreign countries want more Chinese teachers |
| D．many American children are learning Chinese now |
7 . Can you swim? Swimming is very popular. Many people like swimming. They like swimming in summer because water makes people feel cool. But swimming in a wrong place is very dangerous. A lot of people die when they are enjoying themselves in the water and most of them are students. Some of them die because they are not careful in swimming. They often think they swim so well that nothing will happen to them in the water. Summer is here again. If you go swimming in summer, don’t forget that better swimmers may die in water. People die because they are not careful, not because they cannot swim. So don’t get into the water when you are alone. Don’t get into the water if there is a “No Swimming” sign. If you remember these, you will be safe.
1. Why do people like to swim in summer?| A．Because they feel cool in the water. | B．Because they feel free in the water. |
| C．Because swimming makes them strong | D．Because swimming makes them popular. |
| A．it is popular enough | B．you like swimming very much |
| C．it makes people excited | D．you swim in dangerous places |
| A．they swim so well | B．they are not strong enough |
| C．they are not careful | D．they can’t swim well |
| A．old people | B．young people | C．women | D．men |
| A．swimming is a good sport | B．we should not go swimming in summer |
| C．we must be careful in swimming | D．we should not go swimming in the water |
| You are what you eat | Keeping better eating habits can help you reduce（减少）illnesses. A healthy eating plan means choosing the right foods to eat and preparing foods in a healthy way. |
________ | Do you often change your toothbrush? Maybe you think it is not necessary. A study shows old toothbrushes bring diseases. You should often change your toothbrush. |
Exercise | Swimming, running, skating, skiing, dancing, walking and some other activities can help you stay healthy. You should exercise at least three times a week and for twenty minutes or more each time. Do it. |
| Plan out your life | You should have breakfast before you go to school. Have a right meal for lunch. Follow a healthy diet. |
1. What’s the passage mainly about?
| A．Healthy food. | B．Healthy lifestyle. | C．Junk food. | D．Healthy sports. |
| A．Man’s illnesses | B．Illnesses | C．Change your toothbrush | D．Your bathroom |
| A．For twenty minutes. | B．For fifteen minutes. |
| C．For ten minutes. | D．For five minutes. |
| A．a right diet and much food | B．exercise and much food |
| C．sleeping and exercise | D．a right diet and exercise |
9 . Many young people are worried about traveling alone(单独). Here are some tips for you. When you are traveling somewhere new, don't take flights that get you to a new place late at night unless someone is meeting you at the airport. That may be dangerous.
Learn some words of the language of the country you are visiting, or at least have a dictionary with you. Then if you can't speak the language, you can express(表达) yourself with the dictionary. And you'd better learn something about the culture(文化) of the country. When you travel to the country, you should respect(尊重) its culture. Put your important things in several different pockets.
Take some medicine with you. You may need it when you are traveling. If you are lost, ask a policeman for direction(方向). If you follow the advice above, you may have a good trip.
1. What should you do when you travel?| A．Ask anyone for direction. |
| B．Put your important things in one pocket. |
| C．Take flights that get you to a new place late at night. |
| D．Learn something about the culture of the country. |
| A．Taking as many photos as possible. |
| B．Taking some medicine with you. |
| C．Respecting the country's culture. |
| D．Learning some words of the country you are traveling. |
| A．Advice on traveling alone. |
| B．What to take when traveling. |
| C．Why to respect others' culture. |
| D．Tips for learning a language. |
| A．In the sports column (专栏) of a magazine |
| B．In the travel column of a magazine. |
| C．In the food column of a magazine. |
| D．In the culture column of a magazine. |
10 . For many people of Norway（挪威）, skiing is the best way to have fun in winter. Almost everyone can ski. Children learn to ski after they learn to walk. Long long ago in Norway, there were no buses, trains or cars. People had to find a way to walk over the deep snow. Skis were the right answer!
Although they love winter, the people of Norway are also happy to see summer come. They enjoy the outdoor activities at any time of the year. In summer they swim and sunbathe near the beach. Some people go hiking and go mountain climbing. Sail-boating is also very popular during the warm sunny summer months.
The Norwegians, like people everywhere, find many indoor ways to have a good time. During the long winter, they also enjoy movies. They like to read books from the libraries in all seasons. Family life is very important to the people of Norway.
1. Long long ago, Norwegians skied for ________ .| A．having fun | B．crossing the deep snow |
| C．making money | D．fishing |
| A．6. | B．7. | C．8. | D．9. |
| A．skiing in Norway | B．the life of Norwegians |
| C．outdoor activities in Norway | D．indoor activities in Norway |
